Pakistan Rebuffs Secret US Pleas For CIA Buildup

Pakistan Rebuffs Secret US Pleas For CIA Buildup

The top two American intelligence officials traveled secretly to Pakistan early this month to press President Pervez Musharraf to allow the Central Intelligence Agency greater latitude to operate in the tribal territories where Al Qaeda, the Taliban and other militant groups are all active, according to several officials who have been briefed on the visit.

But in the unannounced meetings on Jan. 9 with the two American officials -- Mike McConnell, the director of national intelligence, and Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the C.I.A. director -- Mr. Musharraf rebuffed proposals to expand any American combat presence in Pakistan, either through unilateral covert C.I.A. missions or by joint operations with Pakistani security forces.

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